Lunchtime Round-Up 29th January

Chelsea are set to make a bid for Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland. The 19-year-old has attracted a lot of interest in the January transfer window so far from the likes of Liverpool, Southampton, Newcastle and Everton. But Chelsea are now odds on favourites to sign the England Under-21 international. Butland has had a very good season for Birmingham so far, playing a total of 29 games so far

Manchester City have held talks with Italian sides Juventus and AC Milan over a possible sale of striker Mario Balotelli. City have valued the Italian at £24 million and would not accept any bid lower than this. So far this season Balotelli has found it hard to make an impact on the side having only scored once in the Premier League and three in all competitions

QPR defender Anton Ferdinand has completed his loan deal to Turkish side Bursaspor. Ferdinand hadn’t been used by new manager Harry Redknapp since Boxing day and it had been rumoured that Ferdinand is surplus to requierments at QPR. But with the likes of Tal Ben Haim and Yun Suk-young joining the club, would most likely see Ferdinand keep slipping further down the pecking order at the club

Sticking with QPR, manager Harry Redknpp has confirmed that the club are interested in signing Stoke City striker Peter Crouch and Anzhi Makhachkala defender Christopher Samba. But Redknapp has said that he doubts that both players will want to move from their respective clubs to Loftus Road this month

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he is still looking for new players on the transfer market, but has ruled out a move for Barcelona’s David Villa and also a move for former England captain David Beckham, who this week has asked to train with the club to keep up his fitness levels

Reading boss Brian McDermott has confirmed that the club has made a bid for Blackpool winger Tom Ince. Liverpool have also shown keen interest in signing the youngster, but have yet to make a bid for him. Ince has been instrumental for Blackpool this season, scoring 15 goals in 27 league games

Leeds United have emerged as favourites to sign Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock. Warnock hasn’t featured for Villa so far this season, and has already had a loan spell with Championship side Bolton. West Ham had also shown some interest in Warnock, but it is belived that Leeds are still favourites to sign him

Very surprising news here, as Swansea’s Dutch goalkeeper Michel Vorm is a target for European Champions Barcelona

Sunderland are set to step up their interest in Swansea striker Danyy Graham and offer £5.5 million for the in-form striker who has already asked to leave the Liberty Stadium this season

Crawley Town have completed the loan signing of Sunderland goalkeeper Jonny Maddison until the end of the season

Wycombe Wanderers have extended the loan deal for QPR defender Michael Hariman until the end of the season

Tranmere striker Cole Stockton has signed a new two-and-a-half year deal with the club after impressing manager Ronnie Moore this season